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| Northern Ireland ceasefire monitoring body on agenda in crisis talks | Northern Ireland ceasefire monitoring body on agenda in crisis talks |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Theresa Villiers has confirmed that talks to save power sharing in Northern Ireland will include a discussion on bringing back a ceasefire monitoring body. | Theresa Villiers has confirmed that talks to save power sharing in Northern Ireland will include a discussion on bringing back a ceasefire monitoring body. |
| The body was set up to review command structures of groups like the IRA, which were meant to have gone out of existence. | The body was set up to review command structures of groups like the IRA, which were meant to have gone out of existence. |
| And the Northern Ireland secretary said on Friday that reviving the independent commission was one “credible” option to restore faith in Northern Ireland’s political process, which was pushed closer to collapse when Peter Robinson, the first minister, resigned on Thursday. | And the Northern Ireland secretary said on Friday that reviving the independent commission was one “credible” option to restore faith in Northern Ireland’s political process, which was pushed closer to collapse when Peter Robinson, the first minister, resigned on Thursday. |
| Robinson stepped down as the row over a murder this summer linked to the IRA reached crisis point. Almost all his Democratic Unionist ministers resigned from the power-sharing coalition with Sinn Féin, except the finance minister, Arlene Foster. | Robinson stepped down as the row over a murder this summer linked to the IRA reached crisis point. Almost all his Democratic Unionist ministers resigned from the power-sharing coalition with Sinn Féin, except the finance minister, Arlene Foster. |
| Related: Stormont in crisis as Northern Ireland's first minister Peter Robinson resigns | Related: Stormont in crisis as Northern Ireland's first minister Peter Robinson resigns |
| She has been appointed acting first minister to keep the regional government alive in “zombie form” and allow emergency talks to continue. | She has been appointed acting first minister to keep the regional government alive in “zombie form” and allow emergency talks to continue. |
| Describing a possible revival of the ceasefire monitoring body as a core element of those talks, Villiers told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday: “That is certainly one of the most credible ideas. I think it wouldn’t necessarily be appropriate to set up exactly the same structure that existed in the past and certainly one would need to ask it a different question. In the past the question was just about decommissioning and ceasefires. | |
| “I think now it is very clear we want to see these paramilitary organisations disband altogether. We also want to investigate the role of members of these organisations in relation to criminality.” | “I think now it is very clear we want to see these paramilitary organisations disband altogether. We also want to investigate the role of members of these organisations in relation to criminality.” |
| The cabinet minister accepted that power sharing was “under huge strain” over allegations that the IRA still exists and claims that it killed former member Kevin McGuigan outside his home in the Short Strand district of east Belfast in August. | The cabinet minister accepted that power sharing was “under huge strain” over allegations that the IRA still exists and claims that it killed former member Kevin McGuigan outside his home in the Short Strand district of east Belfast in August. |
| If a monitoring body was reconstituted, it would not only have to investigate the circumstances around the McGuigan murder, but also claims that individual IRA activists were responsible. Any new ceasefire monitoring group will have to explore alleged links between IRA veterans and a new vigilante-style group in Belfast calling itself Action Against Drugs. | |
| The group was believed to be behind a gun attack at a home in republican west Belfast on Thursday when the door was riddled with bullets. No one was injured in the shooting but AAD graffiti was later daubed nearby. | The group was believed to be behind a gun attack at a home in republican west Belfast on Thursday when the door was riddled with bullets. No one was injured in the shooting but AAD graffiti was later daubed nearby. |
| The Police Service of Northern Ireland’s chief constable, George Hamilton, said AAD had IRA veterans as well as republican dissidents in its ranks. | The Police Service of Northern Ireland’s chief constable, George Hamilton, said AAD had IRA veterans as well as republican dissidents in its ranks. |
| However, republican dissident sources have told the Guardian that AAD is mainly made up of Provisional IRA members loyal to the mainstream republican movement that supports Sinn Féin. | However, republican dissident sources have told the Guardian that AAD is mainly made up of Provisional IRA members loyal to the mainstream republican movement that supports Sinn Féin. |
| Related: David Cameron should suspend Northern Ireland devolution now | Malachi O’Doherty | Related: David Cameron should suspend Northern Ireland devolution now | Malachi O’Doherty |
| AAD’s predecessor from the 1990s, Direct Action Against Drugs, was in fact a front for the Belfast brigade of the PIRA. Among its main assassins were McGuigan and the man he was accused by fellow republicans of killing in May, one-time Belfast IRA commander Gerard “Jock” Davison. | AAD’s predecessor from the 1990s, Direct Action Against Drugs, was in fact a front for the Belfast brigade of the PIRA. Among its main assassins were McGuigan and the man he was accused by fellow republicans of killing in May, one-time Belfast IRA commander Gerard “Jock” Davison. |
| Meanwhile, Foster defended her role as acting first minister, saying she would remain in the Northern Ireland executive to defend the community against “rogue elements” within nationalism and republicanism. | Meanwhile, Foster defended her role as acting first minister, saying she would remain in the Northern Ireland executive to defend the community against “rogue elements” within nationalism and republicanism. |
| Her remarks on Radio Ulster were criticised as “bigoted” by Sinn Féin. Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly said: “She actually said that her job was – which by the way it isn’t – her job was to protect unionism. Her job as a minister is actually to serve all the people.” | Her remarks on Radio Ulster were criticised as “bigoted” by Sinn Féin. Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly said: “She actually said that her job was – which by the way it isn’t – her job was to protect unionism. Her job as a minister is actually to serve all the people.” |
| Three men, including Sinn Féin’s chairman in Northern Ireland, Bobby Storey, were released from custody on Thursday night after being questioned about the McGuigan murder. Storey, who was named in parliament a decade ago as the IRA’s director of intelligence, said he was considering suing the police over his arrest. | Three men, including Sinn Féin’s chairman in Northern Ireland, Bobby Storey, were released from custody on Thursday night after being questioned about the McGuigan murder. Storey, who was named in parliament a decade ago as the IRA’s director of intelligence, said he was considering suing the police over his arrest. |